Healthy Leicestershire

15/03/2026

Passionate about food? Then hold a food conversation in your local community!

As we work towards achieving the Gold Sustainable Food Award (https://orlo.uk/sqGsI), we need local voices to help shape a fairer, healthier, more sustainable food future.
We’re looking for volunteers to help us run Food Conversations in communities, workplaces, and groups across the county. A Food Conversation is a guided group discussion where people hear insights, explore issues, and identify community priorities for change.

When are the training sessions?

Saturday 21st March at Fearon Hall, Loughborough (LE11 1PL) and Thursday 26th March at County Hall, Leicestershire County Council (LE3 8RA). Both sessions are a full-day, in-person and all resources and materials will be provided.
Please note volunteers only need attend one session and booking is essential.

Who can get involved?
Anyone! You don’t need specialist knowledge of the local food system — just enthusiasm and a desire to create positive change.

Interested in taking part?
If you are excited about participating in shaping our food system, please contact Gavin Fletcher - Gavin.fletcher@leics.gov.uk for more info. If you don’t feel confident in leading a food conversation but still want to be involved in Good Food Leicestershire, and / or you are part of a community group who you feel we should be talking to, please let us know!

13/03/2026

Last week Beckie from the Mental Health Friendly Place’s team paid a visit to Gather, Create, Grow and got fully stuck in learning how to crochet
She’s even set herself a personal challenge – to crochet a green love heart to represent mental health, so keep posted on her journey!

The amazing group have been busy making knitted love hearts as random acts of kindness for the Mental Health Friendly Place team to hand out. Such a thoughtful and creative way to raise awareness and spread conversations about mental health.

Check out our video where Natalie talks about the different groups they run, why they chose to become a Mental Health Friendly Place, and her encouragement for others to get involved.

If you’d like to know more about the groups they run or would like to attend, reach out to the team at gathercreategrowuk@gmail.com or check out their page Cosby Yarn Bomb. Everyone is incredibly friendly and welcoming, making it a lovely space to come along, get creative, and connect with others.

Thank you for being amazing and for representing everything that Mental Health Friendly Places are all about!

13/03/2026

Are you a parent or carer?

Yes!

Coming up are some free webinars for parents and carers across the East Midlands.

These sessions are supportive, practical and non-judgemental.
​You don’t need to share personal details, turn your camera on, or speak if you don’t want to.

They are only half an hour! and sessions include…

🔹 How to argue without falling out and make up without feeling annoyed!
🔹 When ADHD or Autism is part of Family Life
🔹 When Parents Separate: How to communicate in ways that help children
🔹 Together Through the Change: Caring for your relationship after a baby

So why not see if anything feels useful for you and your child 🧒

Book on now! https://orlo.uk/l7a5Z

12/03/2026

Smoking in pregnancy and exposing baby to second-hand smoke before or after birth increases the risk of SIDS.

⭐ Whether you’re expecting or are a new parent or want to quit now a new baby has entered your life, we can help. ⭐

QuitReady is a free stop smoking service, and offers specialist advice for pregnancy: https://orlo.uk/OF2CW

💤

12/03/2026

Tackling food waste can go hand in hand with benefits to your family's health! Take a look at this post from Leicestershire Recycling 👇

Tackling food waste can go hand in hand with benefits to your family's health!

People who waste more food at home often struggle using fresh foods, but you can max out the nutritional value of your food and use every part by not peeling many vegetables and fruits.

The skins on potatoes, carrots, parsnips, and other veg are packed with fibre, vitamins, and flavour.

Just give them a quick scrub under the tap and you're good to go - saving time and boosting nutrition in one move.

11/03/2026

How to choose the right mattress and bedding for a baby…

⭐A baby only needs a few simple items.
⭐The safest mattresses are firm, flat and protected by a waterproof cover.

For more information go to https://orlo.uk/1Wbe7

💤

11/03/2026

Today marks national No Smoking Day 🚭

It's never too late to kick the habit and begin your new smokefree life!

You are five times more likely to quit smoking if you have professional support and stop smoking medication. Our service is completely free to those who live and work in Leicestershire.

Take that first step today, contact us:
💻https://orlo.uk/yQG5L
☎️0345 646 66 66
📲text ‘ready’ to 66777

10/03/2026

It’s and we’re supporting the Love Food Hate Waste campaign to make your food go fuuuuurther - for your pocket AND our planet.

UK households throw away 4.4 million tonnes of edible food every year. For a family of four, that's around £1,000 down the drain. T

This week, we're challenging you to:

🍳 Use up those leftovers creatively
📝 Plan meals to buy only what you need
♻️ Recycle the bits that can’t be eaten

Small changes make a massive difference. By reducing food waste, you can save time and money, as well as help cut the 16 million tonnes of greenhouse gases created by wasted food each year.
👉 For helpful tips, recipes and ways to make your food go further, find out more https://orlo.uk/4SfFG

09/03/2026

Today marks the start of Safer Sleep Week 2026! This year’s theme is ‘baby necessities’

The Lullaby Trust have shared some helpful reminders to keep it simple to keep it safe.

By the end of the week, you’ll know:

⭐Which products your baby needs and which you can (and should) leave on the shelf.
⭐What to look for in a product, or on the label, to know if it fits within safer sleep.
⭐What to dress your baby in for sleep in different temperatures.

https://orlo.uk/aj1Gv

06/03/2026

Next week is Food Waste Action Week - take a look below for more information!

05/03/2026

📖 World Book Day 📖
World Book Day 2026 focuses heavily this year on "Reading for Pleasure",

Supporting children to gain a love of books, reading, listening to stories and developing their imagination!

Why not visit one of your local libraries?
https://orlo.uk/7r4yw

More information, resources and activities can be found here
https://orlo.uk/3V9hG

04/03/2026

World Obesity Day 4th March

This year it focuses this year on children and the importance of early prevention, understanding and support.

The topic is 💻Screentime at Mealtime! 🍽️

Its impact on babies and young children is a major national and global conversation!


https://orlo.uk/8Vi9N